Sri Lanka need team effort for success in ODIs - Mathews

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews has called for strong collective performance, rather than reliance on key players, as he prepares to lead the team in his first ODI series as captain. Sri Lanka's 1-0 Test series win over Bangladesh was largely founded upon the efforts of Rangana Herath, who took 12 wickets in the Colombo Test, and Kumar Sangakkara, who averaged 110 in the series. Herath has been rested for the first two ODI matches, while Sangakkara has, in the past, not been the force that he is in Tests.

Sri Lanka, who are also missing Mahela Jayawardene due to a finger injury, have named an inexperienced squad featuring three uncapped players, while Sachithra Senanayake, who is the only specialist spinner in the squad has only played seven ODIs. Vice-captain Dinesh Chandimal has played 50 ODIs, but did not have a regular place in the side in 2012, and Kushal Janith Perera, who may be called upon to open the innings, is only in his second international series.

"Everyone has to play a big part in this team, for us to win," Mathews said on the eve of the first match. "Everyone has to contribute. We are not looking at the spinners or the seamers, we are looking at a collective effort. We have to realise that there's talent all through the squad and we're not after certain players who have to really perform. We are a very good unit and all 11 can perform on the day and win the series."

In the last year, Sri Lanka have used three allrounders in their limited-overs playing XI with moderate success, and Mathews hinted his side would persevere with that combination against Bangladesh. Thisara Perera has fulfilled the role of bowling allrounder for Sri Lanka, and Jeevan Mendis has largely been picked for his batting. Mathews meanwhile, sees himself as more of a genuine allrounder in the shorter formats. Sachith Pathirana is also an allrounder, and although Mathews said the team were excited about the prospect of new players being blooded in this series, he also spoke about the youth that has been embedded in the ODI side for some time.

"Looking at the one-day unit, we've had the same combination for a long time and most of the guys are young. We are missing Mahela Jayawardene due to injuries and, apart from Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan, in the batting line-up we are all pretty young and growing as a team. As for the bowlers, Lasith Malinga and Nuwan Kulasekara provide the experience there, and Sachithra Senanayake and Thisara Perera have also been playing some really good cricket in the recent past."

None of the Sri Lanka players have played competitive limited-overs cricket since the tour of Australia ended in late January, and given the packed schedule, will only have one training session to adjust to the shorter format. Mathews said learning to adapt quickly was part of the modern game, and was confident his side would change quickly into an ODI mindset.

"It's not easy, but we as players have to adjust to conditions and situations as soon as possible. That's our main target. We've played some really good cricket in the Test matches, and prior to that we had some good three-day games in domestic cricket. We haven't played much one-day cricket since the Australia tour, but we have to be ready as a team, and have to switch mentally as soon as possible."

@CRLShamalka please tell me how many test playing nations around the world would accept a player who has scored only 1 century in test cricket and averages 72 with the ball with 2/60 as his best figures in 33 tests? Darren Sammy and Mathews have played the same amount and Sammy has scored the same amount of centuries as Mathews but he has taken 4 five wicket hauls and is an attack team player. Yet Mathews keeps telling everyone that he is a 'batting allrounder'. Kallis and Flintoff are batting allrounders EVEN Mitchell Johnson is a better batsman than Mathews. I'd like to see him survive another family trip down under with his current form though he'll probably survive with this selection panel.

POSTED BY
Lakpj
on | March 23, 2013, 7:39 GMT

@PAGLA_FAN_MELB it seems that you had not followed the Aus tour properly. Sanga played in the first 2 tests. After that he didn't even play in the ODI series. SL drew it and if not for that brain freezed washout decision from the officials SL could have won the series. And won the T20s as well. So even if Sanga was there it would not have made a big difference. If you think that your youngsters will improve in 5 years. so can the youngsters of other teams as well. Sanga and Mahela will be there for 3 or so years. so by the time they go all these young SL players will be well established. It is so funny that most Bangladesh fans are willing to wait even 100 games till their youngsters improve and could not wait 30 games till the youngsters of other teams improve.

POSTED BY
MelbourneMiracle
on | March 23, 2013, 7:31 GMT

@shanepe2003: I'm now quite confident that you come to cricinfo only to comment against Mathews but anything else. This is what you've been doing for the past so many months and you're continuing to do so. You once told that Mathews will become SL Test or ODI captain only in his dreams but now that reality has come true. Nothing you said against Mathews has prospered so far and it will be the same in the future too. Either you're really not following the game or either you simply have a hidden agenda to sling mud at Mathews for the reasons only knows by you. The real fans who have followed the game for the past few years know that it's none other than Mathews has won us games single handedly in most occasions. After all your empty comments will have no effect against Mathews or SL teams

POSTED BY
on | March 23, 2013, 6:43 GMT

I dont know what this BD fans saying.. always saying they have good young talanted guys and they will success in next 5 years.. you guys are saying this from 2005. ha ha.. Lets see. BD dont have guts to play with sri lanka.

POSTED BY
PAGLA_FAN_MELB
on | March 23, 2013, 1:01 GMT

WITHOUT Sanga SL is nothing; that had been proved in Aus tour.I would say they are an avg. team. Whearas, Tiger BD team is full of talent and in next 5 years they will rule the cricket world - if there is a proper guidence. Angelo is the most under per captain comparing to other teams. SL does not have GREAT allrounder like Shakib, Mendis was one time wonder, aand all the senior players are leaving soon.. so whats left??

POSTED BY
ziggy500
on | March 23, 2013, 0:29 GMT

i hate how everyone is saying SL is a young side. before last test series sohag played 2 tests, abul played 1 , anamul and mominul were on debut, nasir played 6, robiul played 5. SL side however got all the talk from media and commentators in the series that they had a young side, making an excuse if you had somehow lost(probably wouldn't have, but there was a chance). our team was also young, but all i want to say is that the media had diverted it all to SL when BD were also severely depleted of experience, as seen when the only difference of the two sides were the amazing rangana herath and kumar sangakarra.this ODI series, BOTH teams (not just SL) are missing players, notably jayawardene and sakib, but the diffrence could once again be sanga and this time malinga. but we have razzak, one of the best ODIi bowlers in the world(check rankings) and tamim(if he fires) and can be much more competitive.

POSTED BY
huffpost
on | March 23, 2013, 0:02 GMT

I am looking forward to BD fans comments after they lose this ODI series. I think most BD fans live in an alternative reality.I hope this series will make them all realise that their team is not as good as what they think it is..As a neutral observer , I can say that SL is a much better ODI team than BD and I expect them to win 3-0.

POSTED BY
on | March 22, 2013, 17:42 GMT

I am sure Mathews will do the job very well provided injury free in ODI's for Sri lanka but I must say he is not a test player his style of playing suits only shorter formats and every one should understand and accept that....

POSTED BY
on | March 22, 2013, 16:09 GMT

Sri Lanka should win the series 3-0 although the team is full of new players, a very young squad. good for the future

POSTED BY
samlord
on | March 22, 2013, 15:58 GMT

Some funny comments poring down from BD fans.yes ur team is good .Yet when u put up with SL ODI squad they r ordinary..If u saw how they played with the aussies 2 months a go in australia,BD has no lace with this SL squad.they filled with ODI specialists.Malinga,thisara kula all the lethal in the ODI format.Plus watch out for Kusal Janith..YES SANA IS BACK :)

POSTED BY
Metro-ant
on | March 23, 2013, 10:04 GMT

@CRLShamalka please tell me how many test playing nations around the world would accept a player who has scored only 1 century in test cricket and averages 72 with the ball with 2/60 as his best figures in 33 tests? Darren Sammy and Mathews have played the same amount and Sammy has scored the same amount of centuries as Mathews but he has taken 4 five wicket hauls and is an attack team player. Yet Mathews keeps telling everyone that he is a 'batting allrounder'. Kallis and Flintoff are batting allrounders EVEN Mitchell Johnson is a better batsman than Mathews. I'd like to see him survive another family trip down under with his current form though he'll probably survive with this selection panel.

POSTED BY
Lakpj
on | March 23, 2013, 7:39 GMT

@PAGLA_FAN_MELB it seems that you had not followed the Aus tour properly. Sanga played in the first 2 tests. After that he didn't even play in the ODI series. SL drew it and if not for that brain freezed washout decision from the officials SL could have won the series. And won the T20s as well. So even if Sanga was there it would not have made a big difference. If you think that your youngsters will improve in 5 years. so can the youngsters of other teams as well. Sanga and Mahela will be there for 3 or so years. so by the time they go all these young SL players will be well established. It is so funny that most Bangladesh fans are willing to wait even 100 games till their youngsters improve and could not wait 30 games till the youngsters of other teams improve.

POSTED BY
MelbourneMiracle
on | March 23, 2013, 7:31 GMT

@shanepe2003: I'm now quite confident that you come to cricinfo only to comment against Mathews but anything else. This is what you've been doing for the past so many months and you're continuing to do so. You once told that Mathews will become SL Test or ODI captain only in his dreams but now that reality has come true. Nothing you said against Mathews has prospered so far and it will be the same in the future too. Either you're really not following the game or either you simply have a hidden agenda to sling mud at Mathews for the reasons only knows by you. The real fans who have followed the game for the past few years know that it's none other than Mathews has won us games single handedly in most occasions. After all your empty comments will have no effect against Mathews or SL teams

POSTED BY
on | March 23, 2013, 6:43 GMT

I dont know what this BD fans saying.. always saying they have good young talanted guys and they will success in next 5 years.. you guys are saying this from 2005. ha ha.. Lets see. BD dont have guts to play with sri lanka.

POSTED BY
PAGLA_FAN_MELB
on | March 23, 2013, 1:01 GMT

WITHOUT Sanga SL is nothing; that had been proved in Aus tour.I would say they are an avg. team. Whearas, Tiger BD team is full of talent and in next 5 years they will rule the cricket world - if there is a proper guidence. Angelo is the most under per captain comparing to other teams. SL does not have GREAT allrounder like Shakib, Mendis was one time wonder, aand all the senior players are leaving soon.. so whats left??

POSTED BY
ziggy500
on | March 23, 2013, 0:29 GMT

i hate how everyone is saying SL is a young side. before last test series sohag played 2 tests, abul played 1 , anamul and mominul were on debut, nasir played 6, robiul played 5. SL side however got all the talk from media and commentators in the series that they had a young side, making an excuse if you had somehow lost(probably wouldn't have, but there was a chance). our team was also young, but all i want to say is that the media had diverted it all to SL when BD were also severely depleted of experience, as seen when the only difference of the two sides were the amazing rangana herath and kumar sangakarra.this ODI series, BOTH teams (not just SL) are missing players, notably jayawardene and sakib, but the diffrence could once again be sanga and this time malinga. but we have razzak, one of the best ODIi bowlers in the world(check rankings) and tamim(if he fires) and can be much more competitive.

POSTED BY
huffpost
on | March 23, 2013, 0:02 GMT

I am looking forward to BD fans comments after they lose this ODI series. I think most BD fans live in an alternative reality.I hope this series will make them all realise that their team is not as good as what they think it is..As a neutral observer , I can say that SL is a much better ODI team than BD and I expect them to win 3-0.

POSTED BY
on | March 22, 2013, 17:42 GMT

I am sure Mathews will do the job very well provided injury free in ODI's for Sri lanka but I must say he is not a test player his style of playing suits only shorter formats and every one should understand and accept that....

POSTED BY
on | March 22, 2013, 16:09 GMT

Sri Lanka should win the series 3-0 although the team is full of new players, a very young squad. good for the future

POSTED BY
samlord
on | March 22, 2013, 15:58 GMT

Some funny comments poring down from BD fans.yes ur team is good .Yet when u put up with SL ODI squad they r ordinary..If u saw how they played with the aussies 2 months a go in australia,BD has no lace with this SL squad.they filled with ODI specialists.Malinga,thisara kula all the lethal in the ODI format.Plus watch out for Kusal Janith..YES SANA IS BACK :)

POSTED BY
gsingh7
on | March 22, 2013, 15:29 GMT

come on tigers .. roar... we are true bangladesh tigers. win series 3-0 . best of luck team BANGLADESH

POSTED BY
on | March 22, 2013, 15:20 GMT

Oh God , this Sri Lankan squad looks like they can win World Cup final....best of luck to both team! A bangla fan

POSTED BY
shanepe2003
on | March 22, 2013, 15:00 GMT

Before talking every ones contribution AB Mathews need to contribute to the team more all this time he's been hiding from the game. I've never seen so call genuine all rounder hiding from the game like Mathews dose, lest see how long will he able to this hide & seek game.

POSTED BY
Fogu
on | March 22, 2013, 14:32 GMT

@TheRisingTeam: you need to be out of prediction business. And I am a BD fan. Let's be confident in our team and hope for success but to predict 3-0 whitewash against SL, really! Come on man! SL is a good one day team. I agree with AzAb12754 on the team selection although Zia can pinch hit anywhere between 3-7 slot. Go Tigers!

POSTED BY
Energetic.
on | March 22, 2013, 14:03 GMT

Malinga will be tough but not impossible. The more you play against him like India does, the more easy you will find him. Probably the reason why he doesn't play Test Cricket anymore ;)

I expect a 2-1 victory to Bangladesh.

POSTED BY
samlord
on | March 22, 2013, 13:34 GMT

@ Rising team..Hope u ll be here @ the end of the series..funny comments mate.3-0 bangladesh.Do u think u r playing against club cricketers in SL.Let me remind u.U r playing against the runner up of last 2 cricket world cups.what has BD done..Some sporadic wins here n there..LOL...Get ready face Malinga yokers n Iron man (thisara) sixes..hope they last the 50 overs

POSTED BY
Captainman
on | March 22, 2013, 12:55 GMT

I wonder what excuse Sri Lanka team and fans will use when they lose this series? :)

POSTED BY
FLIPPER_99
on | March 22, 2013, 12:35 GMT

@TheRisingTeam lol its funny mate how u say BD will win 3-0 when they have won only 3 of all the games played against sl in ODI's looks like they got to double that record eh...but cricket is a funny game & anything could happen & it would be shame if you couldnt win or atleast challenge SL in 1 of the games b'cause this SL team is the youngest 1 iv'e seen in a very long time....

POSTED BY
miles100
on | March 22, 2013, 12:11 GMT

Sachith Pathirana is a player who should have been brought in when he was about 19-21 years of age. This kid is full of talent.

POSTED BY
on | March 22, 2013, 11:49 GMT

First of all Captain need to contribute...All the best Angu....

POSTED BY
stormy16
on | March 22, 2013, 11:48 GMT

I expect the series to be a close contest and it will be interesting if there is some pace and swing around - both teams find these conditions difficult but SL have a better pace unit with Malinga and specially Kula who can be a problem with a new ball in helpfull conditions. Yes Bangladesh have had some good one day performances of late and surely this is their best chance to beat SL. Pretty much the same as in the test series and they did well there before throwing it all away in 15 crazy overs in their 3rd innings and unless they cut out that element or atleast minimze that craziness, they will continue to struggle. SL have a few issues to resolve specially who is going to partner Dilshan and soon take his spot. I think they should rest Dilshan for the series and try out two youngsters but Kusul has a chance to make a name for himself. That chap Vitanage seemed to be in one day mode on his test debut but not sure if he is in the squad but Mahela's batting spot is open this series.

POSTED BY
on | March 22, 2013, 11:38 GMT

young Sri Lankan team is looking good.. the only missing I can see is "mahela jayawardana". it's a big loss for Sri Lanka.. because from him Mathews can get help that he want.. but it's ok.. our boys on the track.. congract.. Mathews.. for your 1 ODI series.. we want the lions roar..

This series is very interesting but I still think as long as Bangladesh play really well, will win this 3-0 and jump ahead of New Zealand and West Indies in the ranking table and remove that 'minnow' status once and for all otherwise Sri Lanka are also minnows now. Don't forget ODIs is Bangladesh's best format now as in the last 2 years the 'minnows' made shock wins over England, India, New Zealand, Ireland (according to other fans better than us) West Indies and of course Sri Lanka which is very unusual from 'minnows'. Hopefully we'll see this Bangladesh XI tomorrow:-

SL included only one specialist spinner. But i think it's a good move. Because the two venue's are much suited for pace bowlers.

POSTED BY
Tal_Botvinnik
on | March 22, 2013, 10:53 GMT

Angelo Perera can bowl some SLA as well.Do we really need sacith pathirana then.
Should have picked T kaushal or N Dickwella.

POSTED BY
cairo
on | March 22, 2013, 10:51 GMT

Bangladesh will take series 2-1.

POSTED BY
bengal_tiger_roars
on | March 22, 2013, 10:36 GMT

Can't wait for tmrw.. hope a great fight between Tigers & Lions :)

No featured comments at the moment.

POSTED BY
bengal_tiger_roars
on | March 22, 2013, 10:36 GMT

Can't wait for tmrw.. hope a great fight between Tigers & Lions :)

POSTED BY
cairo
on | March 22, 2013, 10:51 GMT

Bangladesh will take series 2-1.

POSTED BY
Tal_Botvinnik
on | March 22, 2013, 10:53 GMT

Angelo Perera can bowl some SLA as well.Do we really need sacith pathirana then.
Should have picked T kaushal or N Dickwella.

POSTED BY
on | March 22, 2013, 11:09 GMT

SL included only one specialist spinner. But i think it's a good move. Because the two venue's are much suited for pace bowlers.

POSTED BY
ErangaMahesh
on | March 22, 2013, 11:19 GMT

have to beat Ban 3-0 otherwise it's useless

POSTED BY
TheRisingTeam
on | March 22, 2013, 11:23 GMT

This series is very interesting but I still think as long as Bangladesh play really well, will win this 3-0 and jump ahead of New Zealand and West Indies in the ranking table and remove that 'minnow' status once and for all otherwise Sri Lanka are also minnows now. Don't forget ODIs is Bangladesh's best format now as in the last 2 years the 'minnows' made shock wins over England, India, New Zealand, Ireland (according to other fans better than us) West Indies and of course Sri Lanka which is very unusual from 'minnows'. Hopefully we'll see this Bangladesh XI tomorrow:-

young Sri Lankan team is looking good.. the only missing I can see is "mahela jayawardana". it's a big loss for Sri Lanka.. because from him Mathews can get help that he want.. but it's ok.. our boys on the track.. congract.. Mathews.. for your 1 ODI series.. we want the lions roar..

POSTED BY
stormy16
on | March 22, 2013, 11:48 GMT

I expect the series to be a close contest and it will be interesting if there is some pace and swing around - both teams find these conditions difficult but SL have a better pace unit with Malinga and specially Kula who can be a problem with a new ball in helpfull conditions. Yes Bangladesh have had some good one day performances of late and surely this is their best chance to beat SL. Pretty much the same as in the test series and they did well there before throwing it all away in 15 crazy overs in their 3rd innings and unless they cut out that element or atleast minimze that craziness, they will continue to struggle. SL have a few issues to resolve specially who is going to partner Dilshan and soon take his spot. I think they should rest Dilshan for the series and try out two youngsters but Kusul has a chance to make a name for himself. That chap Vitanage seemed to be in one day mode on his test debut but not sure if he is in the squad but Mahela's batting spot is open this series.